20 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



While it is a most desirable variety of the cabbage tribe, it is 

 one of the most difficult plants to grow in perfection ; at least it 

 frequently proves so with some. The production of perfect 

 specimens is a triumph of the gardener's skill ; more fail than 

 succeed. This ought not to be, for there is no secret or royal 

 highway to success; only a compliance with natural laws — and 

 every kind of plant requires thus much in its culture — is needed. 

 Few, however, are willing to go to the full extent of the require- 

 ments of the plant, or more frequently cultivators neglect even to 

 inform themselves what those requirements are, and consequently 

 fail of success. 



Different varieties of the same family of plants frequently 

 require different treatment with respect to soil, food, and culture. 

 This difference may be only slight, 3'et is all-important to success. 

 Some few essential requirements are common to all the different 

 varieties of the cabbage tribe. They all want a deep, rich soil, 

 and coolness of season, with considerable moisture. 



The cauliflower and cabbage, especially, are most impatient of 

 heat and drought when they once commence to grow and set for 

 heads. A failure to recognize these important requisites, in our 

 efforts at culture, is one error ; a second is frequently committed 

 in procuring seed, for few cultivated plants are more sensitive in 

 regard to good and pure seed than are the cauliflower and cabbage, 

 especially the former. 



To produce the eatable portion, a cool atmosphere and con- 

 siderable moisture are necessary — the spring and fall of the j'^ear 

 usually give us these two essentials in better degree than summer. 

 However much moisture may be required, a well drained soil is 

 necessary, for standing with the feet in water is not conducive to 

 health. Change, or new soil and variety of fertilizers, suits this 

 class of plants better, perhaps, than the majority of vegetables, 

 for they uniformly do best when grown only a single season in 

 the same place. Almost any kind of manure is more acceptable 

 to them than pig-pen, or hog manure. Lime, in moderate quantity, 

 is essential in the soil ; this, however, is usually found there 

 naturally in sufficient quantity for all practical purposes ; still 

 light applications are an improvement. 



The culture of the different varieties of the Brassica oleracea is 

 so nearly alike, that directions for one will nearly as well apply to 

 all ; only a few unimportant details vary where the different 



